Perfil de riesgo en estudiantes de Medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

Introduction: Controlling common risk factors for non-communicable diseases is an effective intervention. Healthy lifestyles among physicians improve preventive counseling and have a positive effect on patient’s behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional study using the “Healthy-doctor = Healthy-patient” questionnaire was done. 54 students of first and 77 of fifth year were interviewed at the Faculty of Medicine in the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet prevalences were determined among students belonging to first and fifth years of the curriculum. Their opinion regarding the role of the faculty to promote healthy lifestyles, and their attitude towards professional preventive practices was assessed. Results: The prevalence of unhealthy diet was 74.8%. Risk consumption of alcohol was 55.6% and 55.8% in first and fifth years respectively. Physical inactivity is higher in fifth year (45.5% vs. 25.9%, p=0028). Smoking increases in the fifth year (25.9% vs. 33.8%, p=0.22). 29.9% of students in fifth year think that the faculty promotes healthy lifestyles, and 61% consider they receive a strong preventive professional training. There is a higher level of knowledge on prevention among students in fifth year (0.55 vs. 0.45, p<0001) with a low general average. Nutritional issues show the lowest level of knowledge. 74.8% were committed with disease treatment rather than disease prevention. Conclusions: Prevalence of risk factors is high with no changes across the professional training. The University must enhance her role to promote healthy lifestyles with interventions on the curriculum and the university environment.